Title: Rewind
Author: Poliwonk
Rating: T
Plot: An AU fic. What would Meredith's life be like had Richard divorced Adele all those years ago and married Ellis?
Disclaimer: I'm not Shonda Rhimes, I don't own these characters, I just like to take them out and play with them sometimes, so please don't sue me. Oh and reviews are nice- they make me happy.
Chapter 5: Hello City
The first two weeks of her internship had gone by quickly and Meredith had taken her free time to scout out housing. Everything seemed either too small, too expensive, or too far from the hospital.
"Meredith, have you found a place yet?"
"Nope, but I haven't had a lot of time to look."
"Well there's an old friend of mine, Jake Comiski, whose looking to rent out his place. It's a three bedroom twin, not too far from the hospital. He'd be willing to give you a decent price for it as well."
"I don't need three bedrooms dad."
"You can find some roommates. I'm sure there are lots of interns looking for a place to live.'
"True."
"I'll call Jake up and let him know you'd like to take a look."
"Thanks."
The house was large for a twin with a cozy feel to it. She could definitely live here she thought. Jake Cominski was a man in his late 50s who was looking to move his practice to Chicago to be closer to his daughter who was having a baby in 3 months. His wife had died 2 years ago from ovarian cancer and there were still many of her touches around the house.
"So, what do you think?" He glanced sideways at her.
"I like it. I'll take it." She grinned widely. She now had a place of her own.
"Great!" I'll have papers drawn up and you can move in next week."
Now all she needed were roommates.
"So, uhm, Meredith" George O'Malley, one of the other interns in their group approached her nervously. Meredith liked George. He was sweet and tried hard to be helpful. But she also sensed that he had a bit of a crush on her and she couldn't think of him that way, he seemed more like a brother than a boyfriend.
"Yeah George?"
"I hear your looking for roommates for your new place?"
"Oh, you've got a new place? Do you need a roommate?" Izzie Stevens, bounded over towards Meredith. Izzie seemed nice, but carried a chip on her shoulder having grown up in a trailer park and having to work for everything she got.
"Yeah I got a place but I don't think it would be a good idea for us to be roommates. We see each other enough as it is."
"Meredith, please you've got to get me out of my parent's house. My mother irons my scrubs for God's sake."
"Geez you really are a woman O'Malley" Alex Karev, or Dr. Evil Spawn as they had taken to calling him, waltzed up to their little group. He had been transferred to Dr. Bailey after pissing off the other resident.
"Shut up Karev." Izzie snapped at him and turned back to their conversation. "Meredith please I promise I'll be so quiet. Besides I love to cook and clean. I'd make a great roommate." The two of them looked at Meredith pitifully.
"I'll think about it." George grinned broadly and Izzie hugged Meredith. "I haven't mad up my mind yet."
"Right of course" Izzie release Meredith and she and George walked out of the locker room practically skipping with joy.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tried Meredith was completely unable to find anyone else who she could even tolerate. So later that day she found George and Izzie and told them that hey could go ahead and move in with her.
"Really! Thank you Meredith!" Izzie embraced Meredith in a squelching hug.
"Izzie I can't breath."
"Sorry. I'm just- thank you so much Meredith. I promise you won't regret it."
"Meredith?" George was smiling broadly
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. You've really saved my ass."
"No problem George." She grinned back at him. Hopefully she wouldn't come to regret this.
A week after moving in Izzie approached her with a "small" request.
"I want to throw a house warming party."
"A what?"
"You know a house warming party, what you throw when you just move in someplace and you want people to stop by, hang out, and bring you gifts."
"I know what a house warming party is Izzie."
Meredith was moving rapidly down the hall to get to her next patient and Izzie, despite her height advantage, was having trouble keeping up.
"Well, you just seemed, unsure. But anyway, I want to have one."
"Um, ok. I guess. Just not too many people and I don't want to be involved in any of the planning.'
"Ok, great."
However, in less than an hour, Izzie had invited all the interns and nearly half of the residents, and even some of the attendings.
Derek, walked down the hall and spotted Meredith at the nurses station filling out some post-op notes for Bailey.
"So, I hear there is the really great party happening this weekend."
"It's a small house warming party. Izzie just got a bit out of hand."
"Oh, ok." He turned to look down at his patient notes. "So, am I invited? I am your friend after all and this does seem to be the kind of think you invite a friend to. Or maybe you'd prefer to skip the party and go out for dinner or a drink. Friends do that as well."
"It's interns only."
"I see." He looked up at her and his blue eyes seemed to melt her.
"Ok, fine. You can come if you'd like."
"Thanks." He looked back down at his notes with a wide grin on his face.
Tomorrow night would be interesting.
A/N: Sometimes the more things change the more things stay the same. Yes Meredith is still going to end up living with George and Izzie. I think that part was inevitable. Up next- the party.